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This Land Development Ltd (This Land) is consulting the local community on outline plans for a residential-led development at Land north of Stortford Road, Little Hadham.
Please take your time to review the proposals. We value local knowledge and welcome your input.
The proposals are for up to 99 new homes (including 40% affordable housing), land for commercial space (e.g. a convenience store), public open space, landscaping and drainage features. Vehicle and pedestrian access to the site is proposed from Stortford Road.
About This Land Development Ltd
We are a real estate developer with a proven track record in sourcing land, securing planning consent and delivering community led infrastructure. We have several exciting schemes across Cambridge, Hertfordshire and Essex to deliver high quality homes and communities.
This Land is in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council. The partnership with the County Council provides financial stability in the form of loans to buy land, create planning applications and develop schemes.
We are committed to building sustainable and good quality housing that respects the existing heritage and landscape of the areas in which they are located. We understand the importance of working with local communities and creating a dialogue throughout the build process. This approach helps to create residential developments that are transformative and have a positive identity for the long term.
Location Plan
Site boundary
Proposed extent of development
Planning Context
East Hertfordshire District Council’s (EHDC) latest published Housing Supply, confirms that EHDC can currently only demonstrate a housing land supply of between 3.4 and 3.7 years, where 5 years is the requirement. Considering this shortfall, EHDC must bring forward sustainable housing sites to rectify this deficit, particularly in the absence of an up-to-date local plan. This will require EHDC to consider all sustainable sites, including those located in areas such as Little Hadham, which benefit from existing services and facilities, and good existing connections into Bishop’s Stortford.
Due to the continued shortfall in housing provision within East Hertfordshire, This Land considers the development proposals provide a significant opportunity to address this shortfall in a sustainable and well-connected location whilst also considering the needs of existing communities.
This Land is seeking pre-application discussions with EHDC and Hertfordshire County Council (Highways and Lead Local Flood Authority) regarding the submission of an outline planning application to ensure the proposals are in accordance with local and national planning policy.
The East Hertfordshire District Plan (2011 to 2033) was adopted in October 2018. EHDC has begun to collate its evidence base for the review of the Local Plan and has undertaken a Call for Sites exercise which closed on 30 September 2024.
The preparation of the outline planning application follows EHDC’s consideration of a Screening Request which was submitted in January 2025. The Screening Opinion received from EHDC confirmed that an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required.
Site Context
The site is located north of Stortford Road, immediately adjacent to the built extent of the settlement and opposite Little Hadham Primary School. It is bordered by agricultural fields to the north, existing residential development to the south and west and Hadham Industrial Estate and St Cecilia’s church to the east.
The site benefits from existing landscape features, with hedgerow and tree planting to the south, the River Ash to the west (with existing vegetation along the course of the river) and existing hedgerows to the east and south-east. There are two existing public rights of way (PRoW) which cross the site, which can be enhanced as part of the proposals and incorporated to form wider green corridors and improve connectivity across the settlement.
Site boundary
Proposed extent of development
View A looking north-east across the site from the existing village shows the close relationship of the site with the existing settlement. It also shows how the site sits directly between the centre of the existing village and the church and Hadham Industrial Estate to the north-east. The new Little Hadham bypass is located a short distance to the north of the site.
View B shows the complementary view looking towards the site from the north-east, with the industrial estate and church in the foreground.
Socio-Economic Benefits
The development will provide economic benefits through the construction process, support to existing local businesses and services through increased footfall and the employment opportunities arising from the provision of a potential convenience store on the site.
For example, a scheme of up to 99 dwellings is estimated to:
- Support the employment of an additional 344 people.
- Increase open space, community sport and leisure spending by £89,100.
- Generate £4,455,000 towards new affordable housing.
- Increase spending in local shops by around £2.8m.
- Generate around £200,000 in council tax revenue
per annum.
Infrastructure Contributions
This Land will contribute to the improvement of local infrastructure and services, which could include roads, schools, open space and health. This is achieved through a Section 106 legal agreement.
